Two New Species of Ostichthys Bony Soldierfish

Somewhere between common soldierfish and pineconefish, there is a group of cute fish in a genus called Ostichthys. This group of deep living and crepuscular species of fish are little known in the aquarium hobby, but they have an appeal all their own.

These bony soldierfish are bonier than regular soldierfish, but not quite as suited up as a spiny and tough pineconfishes. With their large closely spaced eyes, the Ostichthys give a similar goofy look as the Plectrypops cross-eyed soldierfish.

Ostichthys daniela

In a new review published on this group, two new species of Ostichthys were described. Both Ostichthys convexus and O. daniela were collected in the Indian Ocean around Myanmar. The two new species both share the same big eyed, small tailed and high finned appearance which makes them look so unique. [JOSF]

Jake Adams has been an avid marine aquarist since the mid 90s and has worked in the retail side of the marine aquarium trade for more than ten years. He has a bachelor’s degree in Marine Science and has been the managing editor of ReefBuilders.com since 2008. Jake is interested in every facet of the marine aquarium hobby from the concepts to the technology, rare fish to exotic corals, and his interests are well documented through a very prolific career of speaking to reef clubs and marine aquarium events, and writing articles for aquarium publications across the globe. His primary interest is in corals which Jake pursues in the aquarium hobby as well as diving the coral reefs of the world.